Travel & Vacation: Our First Formal Night
Karlie and Brina all dressed up for our first formal night
Earlier that day we went swimming, played, and went to the Freeze Frame Ice Show. Now it was time to get dressed up for our first formal night on the ship. The girls wore their red dresses for the first formal night on the cruise ship. They looked so cute! We took a family picture but I thought you would enjoy some of the snap shots we were able to get while waiting for our family picture. Everyone looked really nice for dinner that night.
Our little ladies
This one cracks me up…..they have obviously spotted someone they know, ha!
Brina taking a picture of Jake and I
A snap shot of Jake and I on the trip
Grandpa and Zach are ready for their picture
Karlie girl all dressed up
Nicko looking sharp
Brina, Nathan and Brandon ready for their pictures
They look thrilled
Uncle Josh looking all snazzy too
Travel & Vacation: Freeze Frame Ice Show
Yay for the Freeze Frame Ice Show!
After some time swimming we all went to the Freeze Frame Ice Show! It was so neat seeing all the people zooming around so gracefully on the ice. The girls thought they made it look really easy. We tried ice skating later that week and it wasn’t as easy as it looked when these guys were flying around!
Karlie super excited to watch the Freeze Frame Ice Show
Brandon, Brina, and Jeremy are ready to watch the ice show. We got really good seats too!
Karlie thought it was cool they had stars on the ice with the skaters
All the kids on the edge of their seats watching the show
One of the couples in the show
I lost count how many times they switch outfits in this program!
Brina’s comment…..they make it look so easy
Now that takes talent
Amazing
The Freeze Frame Ice Show was really neat
Travel & Vacation: Pool Adventures
Fun times at the pool
Our first full day on the cruise we had a full day at sea which was really nice because we got to do a lot of fun activities on the boat. The kids started the day early (at least our kids did), they were up at 6 am and ready to go! After eating breakfast with Grandpa and Grandma the kids thought it would be a good time to go for a swim in their pools. The adults caught up on conversations as the kids went swimming. They were bouncing from splash zone to pool to hot tub. Much to our surprise most of the pools on this boat were chlorine, in the past most were salt water. The kids tended to sit more still when they were in the jacuzzi so I noticed we got more of those pictures, ha!
One of the kids favorite places to swim. It was a circular pool with moving water. The kids loved it. Brandon, Nathan and Karlie are in this picture. If you look at the back of the picture you can see the ocean out the ship’s window (the water’s about the same color too).
Karlie loving the extra time swimming
Brina, Karlie, Brandon and Nathan getting warmed up in the jacuzzi next to the H2O Splash zone
Brina having fun
My nephews Brandon and Nathan. The girls had a blast hanging out with their cousins for the week!
Brina and Nathan in the jacuzzi
And there off to the next great adventure…
Someone’s tired…Zach did a good job keeping up with the group. Thankfully he can sleep almost anywhere!
Nicko playing in the pool!
Have I Told You…
Creative Kids: Fuzzy Caterpillars & a Princess Crown
Brina created these super cute fuzzy caterpillars for everyone in the family
The girls love to do crafts! Whenever we have a little bit of extra time the girls like to sit down and get creative. It is really neat to see the girls get more creative and they can do a lot of the crafts on their own. The other day the girls requested to do a craft. We had several leftover items from an earlier craft we did so they used the scrap construction paper, fuzzy balls, and googly eyes. Brina made adorable fuzzy caterpillars and Karlie made a princess crown for Brina. Love seeing their creations! 🙂
Karlie decided to take her construction paper and fuzzy balls to create a princess crown for Brina
Brina gluing the craft pieces together
Karlie finished Brina’s beautiful princess crown….sweet sisters
Travel & Vacation: We Are On Our Way!
Brina and Karlie on the plane! Whose ready to fly to Florida!?
We recently flew to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to go on a cruise with extended family. The girls love to fly and were super excited to experience their first cruise. Thankfully we had a direct flight from Charlotte to Florida and everything went smoothly. We spent the first evening in Fort Lauderdale with our family before getting on the ship the next day.
All buckled in and ready for take off…we got an extra passenger in our row (isn’t he cute!) 🙂
Karlie entertaining herself on the plane. Who knew that an ice cube on the straw could be so entertaining!? Ha!
Four cute kids sitting nicely on the bench as we call the hotel cab for a pickup
Everyone made it to Florida. Time for dinner…..how about TGI Friday’s!
Wrapping up the evening playing “Go Ape” with the cousins!
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure by Jeff Brown
While on the cruise last week I read the book Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure by Jeff Brown to the girls. Before leaving we had them color and laminate their own Flat Stanley’s to take with them. Both Flat Stanley’s had a blast on the cruise and were often seen looking out the window in our room at the ports, sneaking a snack from the shelf, and other random places throughout the week.
The book was a really quick read but the girls loved it. One afternoon as we were relaxing for a little bit before dinner I read the entire book to them. They thought it was silly and enjoyed taking their very own Flat Stanley on adventures with them.
In this book Flat Stanley wakes up one morning flattened by the bulletin board that fell on top of him during the night. The book goes through the adventures that encounters while being flat from being a kite for his brother to being mailed to a friend and even helping in a museum robbery investigation.
Whether you read the book to the kids or they read it on their own it will be a fun one for them.
Brina and Karlie’s Flat Stanley’s waving at them from the window in our room. The girls were tickled pink they could see them from the dock. It definitely made our room easier to spot (I didn’t see any other Flat Stanley’s in any other windows, ha).
Water Bottle Treats
The girls love it when I put something special in their lunches! One of their favorite surprises in their lunch box is when I make a water bottle container full goodies. The one pictured above was done on their last day of school last year as a way to celebrate the special day with them. Since they were in the same class last year I just sent one to share. This one is full of chocolate and vanilla oreos, but you could put anything in the water bottle container (fruit, veggies, crackers, etc…). I was super excited to hear they ended up sharing the cookies with their friends sitting next to them at lunch! 🙂
It is super easy to do and the kids will love it! Take two empty water bottles and cut the bottles in half (I pinched the bottle together and used scissors to cut the bottle in half). Wash out the bottles and make sure they are dry before filling with the treat. After putting the food into both halves of the bottle, push the two bottles together, and place a piece of decorative tape around the middle to hold the two bottles together. Write a note to your little one, put a hole punch in the middle, and tie it on with a ribbon. Stick it in their lunch box and wait to hear how excited they were when they opened up their lunch box!
Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals
The girls bento boxes we picked up for them in India are now packed and ready for lunch
The girls always love taking school lunches. Jake and I picked up these cute little bento boxes while we were visiting India. The girls love taking them in their lunches to school.
A few weeks ago Karlie told me that she loves it when I pack her lunch. Last week Brina told me she would rather take a lunch to school everyday because she likes what I put into her bag, especially when I stick in a special surprise. Taking the time to pack lunches for the kids really does mean a lot to them.
Lunch Box Meal
- Sliced Pork Roast with sauteed Apple Slices
- Cinnamon Applesauce
- Wild Rice
- Fresh Green Beans (steamed)
- Water Bottle
Bento box goodies – pork with sauteed apples, applesauce, wild rice, and fresh steamed green beans
Heart Reflections: His Will or Ours?
I shared this quote awhile back with some friends and thought it may be something that would encourage you as well.
God doesn’t reveal His will for our consideration. He reveals it for our participation. – Andy Stanley
Often I find myself praying or asking God for what I “think” would be the best for my life instead of letting Him reveal it to me and being joyful in what He wants for me. Or worse when He reveals His will and I don’t like some of the stipulations because I want the ability to negotiate the terms instead of just doing what He asks of me.
I am grateful when He does make His will clear for us even if that means it will not always be smooth sailing. Thankfully we serve a merciful, gracious, forgiving, and loving God because I feel like I stumble and make mistakes more often then I should.
Hope everyone is having a great week. Praying for you, I know it is difficult doing everything that is set out before us each day. Before long the kids will be grown. I pray that we will be able to look back on these days rejoicing in the time we spent investing in their hearts and lives.
